I'm Ba-a-a-ack!!!

Wow, has it really been over 7 months since I've posted?  I will tell you it's been a busy 7+ months, and I think it's a matter of "somethin's gotta give!"  So let me catch you up...

I've been working on my ancestry research.  I've set up family trees on Ancestry.com and love the fact that you enter a name and a little information and before you know it you have hints to look at census data and other information. I've found a 2nd cousin in Arkansas and a 2nd cousin to my PG in Florida.  I'm working on four different trees, so it takes me in many directions.

Also working on some ATC cards in swaps that I've joined at Jessica Brogan's site.  I've done two other swaps and have received some beautiful inspirational cards in return.  The newest swap is about "found poetry" and looks like it will stretch my creativity a bit!

I been running hot and cold when it comes to cooking and baking.  This winter, I've been in the kitchen quite a bit, exploring Pinterest and Facebook recipes.  Most come out pretty darned good.  I've also been doing more reading on GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in our food and want to do more of watching what I'm cooking.  Which leads to growing more of what I will cook.  So I'm also planning this year's garden, hopefully with more organic plantings.

And, of course, there are the grandkids.  Just yesterday we took in "Little Mermaid" at the local library. I love to look over and see them engrossed in the story.  They had seen it before, and my 6 yr. old grandson remembers some of his favorite parts. What a joy to see the look on his face.

What made my heart soar was as soon as I got to their houser, he asked if I brought any art supplies.  Even if it's just a doodle book, we connect with that.

And Little Miss is getting to be the same way, although she's also becoming a bit of a fashionista.  "Grandma, I love your necklace.  It's so fragile."  (Must be the word of the week!)

This year, I'm working on Project Life. For you non-scrapbookers out there, it's a project that lasts a year, and it helps you capture and scrap your everyday life.  How many times have you wondered what life was life for your parents/grandparents when they were your age?  Now is as a good time as any for me to have those answers for my grandkids. Our Scrap Cellar monthly meet-up includes getting our Project Life in place for the prior month before moving on to our other projects.  I think it will work out great and at the end of the year, there will be at least one scrapbook that shows MY life.  Part of my commitment to Project Life is also a commitment to write more in my blog.  I really do love the writing, and sharing pictures.  I just need to commit to it.

This year, we are heading to Idaho this summer. One of my many beautiful nieces is getting married and I wouldn't miss her wedding for the world. So we've decided to make a road trip of it and hopefully have my daughter and grandson accompany us on the way out.  Plans are to stop at Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone. We'll see what else we can pack into the trip.

Speaking of trips, I've had some wonderful mornings driving to work.  Caught these two pics on two different mornings.  Beautiful way to start the day, isn't it?

Okay, so I can't expect to pack in all the information from the last seven months into one blog post, so I'm going to save everything else for another time.


Oh, one more thing.  There's a new blogger out there, and I'm quite intrigued. He is the son of a fellow blogger and he's looking for truth. Please consider visiting Project Truth and sharing a comment or two. Jackson is a talented 19 year old and has won speech and debate competitions in his state. So if you're up for some good "pondering," his blog might be just the place to get you thinkin' about things.

Adventures in Gardening - Part 2

Yes, it's been a while.  I've been spending some time in my garden and have pictures to prove it.

Still enjoying the birds.  We get a visit from many cardinals, twice a day.

And there's always the bathing antics.  What's not to love watching them?

Quite drenched, and looking at me wondering what I'm pointing at him!

Beside our attempt to attract more birds this year, I also wanted to create a haven for butterflies.  For years,  it seems that I don't see many a lot of butterflies around.  When I was young, we saw monarch butterflies all over the place.  Not so much anymore.  So I've been adding more perennials that are butterfly friendly.  And it seems like it may be a success.  I've seen more this year.  In fact, my garden runs the length of my back yard and then wraps around in the back to almost the width of the yard.  And yesterday, I sat and watched a butterfly flit through the garden, taking in the sights.  About an hour later, back again, with a friend.  And every half hour after that.  I'm thinking I'm moving in the right direction in putting the right plants in.

I didn't go to any fireworks displays this year.  Actually, I rarely do.  I love the displays but would like them better without the BOOM!! (I also realized that staying home didn't save me from that.  The neighbors had plenty of BOOM!)  But I got my own little show from my garden.  Don't these look like fireworks?

July 5th

July 6th
What a difference a day makes!

Veggies are doing pretty good.  So far, my only concern is with the peppers.  I would think they'd be bigger by now.  But I'm patient.  Everything else is doing well, and most of what I have is organic and/or heirloom seeds.  That makes me happy!!  Didn't get a shot of the 5 gallon bucket with carrots, but they are also doing well.

Green Peppers

Broccoli - gotta figure out what is feasting on the leaves!

Radishes

Romaine

Sunflowers - Just cuz I like them!

Spaghetti Squash

Zucchini Squash
(I see a little yellow flower there!!)

After the birds dug up most of the zucchini seeds, I had to start some new ones.
We'll see how that goes.

We were blessed late in June with some crazy rains.  Temps were lower than normal, which might account for the lack of growth with the peppers.  Overall, I think the garden's doing well!!  And it's just so dang pretty to sit and enjoy!

Soon, we will have some concrete work done.  If it turns out to be exciting, I'll post pics!!

Enjoy the rest of your Fourth weekend.  

Adventures in Gardening

Azaleas

Since I've been so very absent to posting in the last couple of months, I'm going to try again.  We are stepping into garden season, my most favorite time to take pictures.  And I really do want to blog more, because that helps me to keep creative juices flowing!  So why not combine the two?!?!!  I'm hoping to regularly post the adventures I'm having in my garden this year.

One of the things I'm focusing on this year is growing organic.  As I mentioned previously, I've done a lot of reading lately about the chemicals that are in the foods we eat and even the seeds we plant.  So this year, I purchased organic or heirloom seeds.  Starting from scratch where I can.  I've already planted broccoli, lettuce, sunflowers, carrots, radishes and basil.  This three day weekend, I'll plant more.

Carrots - Growing in a 5 gallon bucket

Radishes

Sunflowers - with egg shells around it to deter slugs

I've asked my PG to build me some raised beds.  They are beautiful!

I'm using my own compost in each of the beds.  And making more in these:

Today, there is a March Against Monsanto happening around the world.  I know to many, this is an uninteresting subject.  Most people want to get on with their own lives and don't have time to take on the big stuff!  To me, this is the big stuff.  One thing that stuck with me when reading about genetically modified organisms (GMO's) is that the seeds that Monsanto sells to farmers are seeds that have their own pesticide/herbicide engineered into the seed.  Imagine what you are eating if the seed had that in it?  And they've managed to convince our lawmakers to create laws that prohibit farmers from saving seeds.  And they've engineered soybeans to be resistant to Round-up.  So a soybean isn't really a soybean as nature intended.

Yes, I could be joining the march today, in Chicago.  But here's my thought on it...I'm going to start in my own backyard, with my own family.  I'm going to talk about it within my circle of friends (and blog buddies). I know it's a weighty issue, and I'm not looking for any huge discussion.  Just asking you to think about it.  Because, if you're my friend, I'd love for you to be around for a very long time. And one way to do that is to eat without the chemicals.

Another way is to really take a look at what you are buying.  There's a huge movement right now that is asking for companies to label which products contain GMO's.  Lots of push back from most corporations.  One who's stepping up to the plate is Chipotle.  On their website, they have a page that shows which menu items are likely to have GMO's.  Pretty responsible, I'd say.  Wouldn't you like to see more?  Do you wonder why you don't??

And before I forget, there's always the flowers.  Well, not so much yet.  But my blog buddy, Ms. A over at Sarcastic Granny has inspired me to work on going thru a photography book to learn more about my camera.  (Check out some of her photography!  STUNNING). And I'm hoping there are enough flowers and pretty things in my garden be worthy of taking pictures.

Okay, so that's Part I of Adventures in Gardening.  Stay well, all...and eat healthy!

The Start of the Three-Day Weekend

Ahhhh!!!  Saturday!! The beginning of a three-day weekend!  I got an early start in the garden (was it before 7 a.m.??) and my PG came out to help after he got up.  All we got done so today (so far) is weeding.  Because we had a warm spell in March this year, I think my garden decided to take off way early in providing the kinds of growth I don't want.  But now we're ready to dump the compost material on the ground and help make the soil easier to work with. 

So I can't say I have a whole lot of gardeny type pics to show you.  Well, except for the ginormous Mr. Lincoln roses.  They have never opened this big before.  Hmmmm...might it be the up side to last year's garage fire at the neighbor's? 

And I have this rosebush that seems to have all different shades of pink in its roses.  If I keep up with deadheading the old flowers, it will bloom all summer. 

This little guy is one of a whole family living under my hostas.  I usually see them in the morning as I leave for work.  But today, I think the weedless dirt was enticing.  He rolled around in the dirt before making a meal of my azalea that no longer has beautiful pink flowers. 

But most of my entertainment today came from our winged visitors.  Saw these house finches.  She was incredibly vocal with him.  Almost scolding him.

 Next thing you know, he's feeding her.  I guess nagging does work sometimes.

Then I caught these sparrows.  Hehehe...I know what they're doing!!! 

And Mr. Robin decided it was time to get ready for his Saturday night date.  Bathing, primping.  Oh, yeah!!

Amazing how we can take our human behavior and superimpose it on the animal world, don't you think?  Well, at least it's fun to imagine!!

Now, what is not lost on me this weekend is the reason for the extra day off.  No matter how you feel about the current state of our nation and the politics that seem to invade every inch of our lives, we are still a nation that celebrates freedom.  And that would not be possible without the sacrifices made by those who defend us.  Because freedom isn't free.  There's been a huge price paid.  And this weekend is set aside for us to remember those who paid that price. 

Say a prayer of gratitude for a soldier.  And one for his/her family. 

Before you bite into that burger!

TGITW (Thank God It's The Weekend)

What a week!!  I had a wonderful Mother's Day!  Spent some time with the kids and grandkids at my daughter's house.  And realized something...that it doesn't matter whether my kids are 3 or 33, when they are in a good mood I am in a good mood.  It was so much fun

to watch my son play with his nephew. 

And to listen to this little girl declare at the top of her lungs, "I LUB YOU". 

And to look over and see my PG taking it all in. 

And to watch as he showed Ava how to prepare corn for the grill.

And to look at this beautiful daughter of mine basking in this life she has.
 

It was a great Mother's Day.

And then came work!  1700+ manila envelopes stuffed with registration material for the 2012-2013 school year.  Yes, we start preparing for the next school year as early as February.  And these envelopes are the culmination of that work.  So it would be a true statement to say that if I never see another manila envelope for a long time, it would make my day/week/month. 

Oh, except the Pick Your Plum envelopes.  But they're padded.  So that's different.  Have you heard of Pick Your Plum?  Each weekday they have an offer that lasts til they sell out.  I've gotten a number of deals on that site.  Shipping prices are phenomenal when you buy more than one of an item.

Looking forward to a shorter workday starting later this week. Gotta love summer hours!!  Gonna make the most of that additional hour at home by getting my garden in shape.  All I've got so far is:

Lots o'work to do.  I'll take pics of the progress!!

Do you have any garden plans?